Crew Roles

Six operational crew roles define personnel functions in flight operations. Each role carries specific responsibilities under 14 CFR Part 135, determines platform access scope, and affects scheduling and duty-time calculations. Crew roles are distinct from user roles. A crew role defines an individual’s function on a specific flight. A user role governs platform-level access.

Role Summary

Role	Abbreviation	API Value	Scheduling Impact	Description
Pilot in Command	PIC	`pic`	Flight time, duty time	Final authority and responsibility for the operation and safety of the flight.
Second in Command	SIC	`sic`	Flight time, duty time	Second pilot designated during flight time.
Flight Attendant	FA	`flight_attendant`	Duty time	Cabin safety and passenger service duties.
Flight Engineer	FE	`flight_engineer`	Flight time, duty time	Aircraft systems monitoring and operation.
Dispatcher	—	`dispatcher`	Duty time	Flight planning, scheduling, and operational control.
Ground Staff	—	`ground_staff`	Duty time	Ground handling, ramp operations, and ground support.

Role Definitions and Qualifications

The pilot designated by the operator as having final authority and responsibility for the operation and safety of the flight per 14 CFR 1.1.

Attribute	Detail
Certification	ATP or Commercial certificate with appropriate type rating
Recurrent training	Per 14 CFR 135.293, 135.297, 135.299
Check requirements	Competency check every 12 calendar months; instrument proficiency check every 6 calendar months
Medical	First-class or second-class medical certificate (per OpSpecs)
Platform access	PIC portal, safety reporting, assigned trips, flight time entry, aircraft records

Scope: Pre-flight planning and weather evaluation, airworthiness determination, regulatory compliance, safety report submission, trip record review and sign-off.

The pilot designated as second in command during flight time per 14 CFR 135.101.

Attribute	Detail
Certification	Commercial certificate with type rating (if required by aircraft type)
Recurrent training	Per 14 CFR 135.293, 135.297, 135.299
Check requirements	Competency check every 12 calendar months; instrument proficiency check every 6 calendar months
Medical	Second-class medical certificate
Platform access	PIC portal (limited scope), safety reporting, assigned trips, flight time entry

Scope: Assists PIC during all phases of flight, monitors systems and instruments, communicates with ATC as directed, submits safety reports.

A crewmember assigned to perform duties in the cabin for passenger safety per 14 CFR 135.107. Required on aircraft with 20 or more passenger seats.

Attribute	Detail
Certification	None (operator-provided training required)
Recurrent training	Per 14 CFR 135.331
Check requirements	Emergency drill proficiency annually
Medical	None required by regulation
Platform access	Safety reporting, assigned trips, duty period entry

Scope: Passenger safety briefings, cabin inspections, emergency procedure execution, first aid response, cabin safety reporting.

A crewmember who monitors and operates aircraft systems per 14 CFR 135.101. Applicable only to aircraft types requiring a flight engineer.

Attribute	Detail
Certification	Flight Engineer certificate with appropriate type rating
Recurrent training	Per 14 CFR 135.293
Check requirements	Per operator-specific requirements
Medical	Second-class medical certificate
Platform access	Safety reporting, assigned trips, aircraft system records, flight time entry

Scope: Aircraft systems monitoring (engines, hydraulics, pressurization, electrical), fuel management, checklist execution, system status advisories.

A person responsible for operational control, flight planning, and scheduling under Part 135.

Attribute	Detail
Certification	Aircraft Dispatcher certificate per 14 CFR Part 65 (if applicable)
Recurrent training	Per operator procedures
Check requirements	Per operator-specific requirements
Medical	None required
Platform access	Full operations module access — scheduling, dispatch, fleet, passenger manifests

Scope: Flight planning and route optimization, weather monitoring, aircraft and crew scheduling, NOTAM review, trip status management, PIC communication during operations.

Personnel performing ground handling, ramp operations, fueling, marshalling, baggage handling, or other ground support functions.

Attribute	Detail
Certification	None (operator-provided training required)
Recurrent training	Per operator procedures
Check requirements	Per operator-specific requirements
Medical	None required
Platform access	Safety reporting, assigned duties, ground safety bulletins

Scope: Aircraft ground handling, baggage and cargo loading, fueling operations, ground equipment operation, ground hazard reporting.

Currency Tracking Fields

Currency and recency requirements are tracked per crew member. These fields drive automated alerts when items approach expiration.

Field	Applies To	Unit	Alert Threshold
Medical certificate expiry	PIC, SIC, FE	Date	60 days before expiry
Competency check date	PIC, SIC	Date	60 days before due
Instrument proficiency check date	PIC, SIC	Date	30 days before due
Night landing currency	PIC, SIC	Count in 90 days	Below 3 landings
Recurrent training completion	All	Date	30 days before due
Emergency drill proficiency	FA	Date	30 days before due
Flight review (BFR)	PIC, SIC	Date	60 days before due

Role Assignment

Crew roles are assigned per trip, not globally. A single individual may hold different roles on different trips. The individual’s base qualifications and certifications determine role eligibility. The system validates the following at the time of crew assignment:

Validation	Rule
Certification match	Crew member holds the required certificate for the assigned role
Type rating match	Crew member holds the type rating for the assigned aircraft (PIC, SIC, FE)
Currency check	All currency items are current as of the trip date
Medical validity	Medical certificate is valid through the trip date (PIC, SIC, FE)

Manage Crew

Crew records, qualifications, and assignments.

Managing Crew

Crew profile setup and currency tracking walkthrough.

User Roles

Platform-level user roles and access scope.

Reports: Crew and Scheduling

Available crew scheduling and duty time reports.

SMS Reference

SmartScore

Operations Reference

FBO Reference

Maintenance Reference

Operational Reports

Portal Reference

Platform Reference

API Reference

Role Summary

Role Definitions and Qualifications

Currency Tracking Fields

Role Assignment

Manage Crew

Managing Crew

User Roles

Reports: Crew and Scheduling

​Role Summary

​Role Definitions and Qualifications

​Currency Tracking Fields

​Role Assignment

​Related

Manage Crew

Managing Crew

User Roles

Reports: Crew and Scheduling

Role Summary

Role Definitions and Qualifications

Currency Tracking Fields

Role Assignment

Related